7519878

Obtaining Test Data for a Device

PublishedApril 14, 2009
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
InventorsMark E. Rosen
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
16 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A method of obtaining test data for a device under test, comprising: obtaining a first part of the test data by testing the device at first points of a range of parameters using progressive sampling; wherein obtaining the first part of the test data comprises: performing the progressive sampling to identify a set of first points; testing the device at the set of first points to produce first test results; and performing an interpolation using the first test results to generate grayscale data corresponding to the first part of the test data; identifying second points in the range of parameters based on the grayscale data, the second points being a predefined grayscale percentage away from a predefined value; and obtaining a second part of the test data by testing the device at the second points using adaptive sampling.

2

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first part further comprises: determining if a number of first points in the set of first points exceeds a threshold; and if the number of first points in the set does not exceed the threshold, perform progressive sampling, testing and interpolation.

3

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, if the number of first points in the set exceeds the threshold, the second part is obtained, wherein obtaining the second part comprises: performing the adaptive sampling to identify a set of second points; testing the device at the set of second points to produce second test results; and performing an interpolation using the second test results to generate the second part of the test data.

4

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein obtaining the second part further comprises: setting a metric relating to adaptive sampling; determining if there are additional points that meet the metric; performing adaptive sampling to identify another set of second points from the additional points; testing the device at the other set of second points to produce additional second test results; and performing an interpolation using the additional second test results to generate part of the test data.

5

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: specifying parameters that encompass the test data, the parameters defining plural points that include the set of first points and the set of second points; determining if greater than a predetermined amount of the plural points have been subjected to testing; and if greater than the predetermined amount of the plural points have not been subjected to testing, obtaining a third part of the test data by testing the device at third points identified using progressive sampling.

6

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: performing an interpolation using the second part of the test data to obtain missing parts of the test data; and displaying the test data using the first and second parts and the missing parts.

7

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameters define a grid having first and second dimensions, the first dimension corresponding to a first parameter relating to the device and the second dimension corresponding to a second parameter relating to the device.

8

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a semiconductor device and the test data is represented as a shmoo plot.

9

9. One or more machine-readable media configured to store instructions, which are executable, for use in obtaining test data for a device under test, the one or more machine-readable media being tangible media, the instructions for causing at least one machine to perform the following functions: obtaining a first part of the test data by testing the device at first points of a range of parameters using progressive sampling; wherein obtaining the first part of the test data comprises: performing the progressive sampling to identify a set of first points; testing the device at the set of first points to produce first test results; and performing an interpolation using the first test results to generate grayscale data corresponding to the first part of the test data; identifying second points in the range of parameters based on the grayscale data, the second points being a predefined grayscale percentage away from a predefined value; and obtaining a second part of the test data by testing the device at the second points using adaptive sampling.

10

10. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9 , wherein obtaining the first part further comprises: determining if a number of first points in the set of first points exceeds a threshold; and if the number of first points in the set does not exceed the threshold, perform progressive sampling, testing and interpolation.

11

11. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 10 , wherein, if the number of first points in the set exceeds the threshold, the second part is obtained, wherein obtaining the second part comprises: performing the adaptive sampling to identify a set of second points; testing the device at the set of second points to produce second test results; and performing an interpolation using the second test results to generate the second part of the test data.

12

12. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 11 , wherein obtaining the second part further comprises: setting a metric relating to adaptive sampling; determining if there are additional points that meet the metric; performing adaptive sampling to identify another set of second points from the additional points; testing the device at the other set of second points to produce additional second test results; and performing an interpolation using the additional second test results to generate part of the test data.

13

13. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are also for causing the at least one machine to perform the following functions: specifying parameters that encompass the test data, the parameters defining plural points that include the set of first points and the set of second points; determining if greater than a predetermined amount of the plural points have been subjected to testing; and if greater than the predetermined amount of the plural points have not been subjected to testing, obtaining a third part of the test data by testing the device at third points identified using progressive sampling.

14

14. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are also for causing the at least one machine to perform the following functions: performing an interpolation using the second part of the test data to obtain missing parts of the test data; and displaying the test data using the first and second parts and the missing parts.

15

15. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the parameters define a grid having first and second dimensions, the first dimension corresponding to a first parameter relating to the device and the second dimension corresponding to a second parameter relating to the device.

16

16. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a semiconductor device and the test data is represented as a shmoo plot.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

April 14, 2009

Inventors

Mark E. Rosen

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Cite as: Patentable. “OBTAINING TEST DATA FOR A DEVICE” (7519878). https://patentable.app/patents/7519878

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